This romantic family melodrama reworks the Madame Butterfly story in Anping, the port attached to Tainan city in southern Taiwan. Xiuqin falls for a Dutch ship’s doctor called Daley, and becomes pregnant. When he has to leave, he promises to return, but never does. Xiuqin brings up her red-haired daughter, Kimby herself. Kim falls for a medical student from Taipei, Zhiqiang, who is about to go to the USA for his studies. Is destiny about to repeat itself?

本片根據《聊齋》中之〈書痴〉改編。書呆子郎玉柱被叔叔郎中元欺負，被迫搬進了傳說中常鬧惡鬼的「孝廉府」，遇上了顏如玉母女，顏母因傷重斃命，玉柱與如玉日久生情，終結成夫婦。郎中元不信玉柱如此幸運，與友史良金往「孝廉府」查察，良金見如玉美艷動人，竟拐走如玉，將其迷姦。良金妻妾，因妒成恨，以孔雀膽毒害如玉，如玉化成厲鬼，將中元、良金等人殺斃報仇。玉柱因如玉已不在人世，不禁一陣辛酸，只有無盡的寂寞與懷念。